Congregational resources from UU Animal Ministry
We’re excited to share ways Unitarian Universalist Animal Ministry (UUAM) can support your congregation in living out Unitarian Universalism’s shared values of justice and care for all beings. We are celebrating 40 years of being a home for animal-loving UUs, offering education, resources, and community that connect our faith to the interdependent web of life.
With last year’s passage of Article II, which calls us to “protect Earth and all beings from exploitation,” UUAM’s mission has never felt more timely. We’ve created a discussion guide, Embracing Interdependence, to help congregations and individuals reflect on what these commitments mean in practice.
UUAM Chapters
Our 46 congregational chapters each explore the animal ministries that interest them: some focus on companion animals, for example, while others focus on farm animals or wildlife, or a combination of all of these and more. We offer monthly Zoom meetings for local chapter leaders and aspiring chapter leaders, as well as resources and grants to help chapters thrive. If you think some members of your congregation might be interested in starting a chapter, you’ll find a sample newsletter blurb below to elicit interest.
Annual Sermon Contest
We are thrilled to announce the 2026–27 Albert Schweitzer Sermon Contest. A $1,000 prize will be awarded to the sermon that best explores UU values in relation to animals. Please share this opportunity with your ministers, worship committees, and guest speakers.
Pet Loss Support Group
For those mourning the loss of a beloved companion animal, we offer a free online Pet Loss Support Group led by our chaplain, Rev. Russell Elleven, DMin. The group meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 8:00 pm EST and provides a safe, compassionate space for healing. See the sample blurb below for sharing this resource with your community.
Celebration & Blessing of the Animals
Mark your calendars, and please share the news in your announcements! Our annual Celebration and Blessing of the Animals will take place online on Sunday, October 4 at 4 pm Eastern. This joyful gathering features music, readings, and inspiring speakers, honoring both the animals in our lives and in the wider world. You can share the opportunity with your community via the sample text below.
If you would like to hold a celebration of your own, we have new resources that you can use to plan your own Blessings of the Animals service and religious education sessions!
RE Class Support
In addition to those RE materials, we have also created a whimsically illustrated, perpetual calendar (it works every year!) of animal-related holidays suitable for posting in your RE classes. If you’d like to see a preview or receive a copy, just write calendar@uuam.org.
Programs & Events
Throughout the year, UUAM offers virtual programs on a wide range of topics—from interdependence to pollinator protection to animal advocacy workshops. Recordings of previous workshops are available on our website.
Stay Connected & Support UUAM
You can keep up with UUAM through our monthly newsletter, social media, and at UUAM.org. Please share our resources with your congregation through newsletters, worship services, or bulletin boards (see sample text below), and forward this email to staff, leaders, and committees it would interest!
We also invite your congregation to support our work through your “Share the Plate” offerings or other charitable initiatives. As a 501(c)(3), we are deeply grateful for, and dependent upon, the generosity of UUs who help sustain this ministry. Thank you to those who have already done so.
We look forward to being a resource for your congregation. If you have any questions, please reach out—we’d love to connect!
With gratitude,
Theresa Zingery, President
Unitarian Universalist Animal Ministry
Rev. John Millspaugh, Executive Director
Unitarian Universalist Animal Ministry
